Yuan Shao, the father of Fanghua in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 755 Historical Mystery

Yuan Xi forced himself to suppress the bad taste in his heart, found a clean tent, and invited everyone to go in and sit down.

This camp account was one of the few that was still intact after the war, but even so, there were a lot of blood stains on it, which showed how intense the battle was.

Liu Bei looked around and sighed: "Your Majesty's victory over Cao Cao this time really makes Bei very impressed."

Even Zhang Fei had nothing to say at this time, because he had never defeated Cao Cao when he followed Liu Bei. In contrast, no matter what means Yuan Xi used, a victory was a victory, and he could not accept it.

Yuan Xiqian said: "As I said before, without the help of Duke Xuande, the day before yesterday would have been extremely dangerous, and the outcome was unpredictable."

"What's more, Cao Cao only suffered a slight setback. Although one of the two generals was killed and the other injured, it was not to the point of breaking his bones."

Liu Bei shook his head and said: "Your Majesty is too humble. This time is a huge blow to Cao Cao."

"Not to mention Dian Wei's death, Cao Chun's injuries as a general of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry are unpredictable. Without his leadership, it is hard to say what role the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, which has been severely beaten by the commander, can play."

The Guan and Zhang people behind him were also relieved. A large part of Cao Cao's fear lies in the maneuverability of his tiger and leopard cavalry. They often attack from long distances and appear unexpectedly at the enemy's weak spots. With Lu Bu's understanding of cavalry combat, he was still defeated. Not to mention Liu Bei, he suffered big losses several times.

Now that he heard that Cao Chun was seriously injured by Taishi Ci, Liu Beifang was not overjoyed. The commanding ability of a cavalry general is very important. Without Cao Chun's tiger and leopard cavalry, even if Cao Jun comes back, everyone will be able to deal with it much more easily in the new field.

Liu Bei asked again: "What's even more powerful is that Bei heard that his eldest son Cao Ang also died in this battle?"

"Bei believes that this is the biggest gain from this battle. It will seriously shake his people's hearts. I'm afraid that around his youngest sons, there will inevitably be a fight for the throne."

"Like."

He suddenly woke up and immediately fell silent, but Yuan Xi waved his hand and said: "Xuan Degong doesn't need to avoid taboos. The internal fighting in the Yuan family has made the whole world laugh. There is nothing that cannot be mentioned."

"Yuan Tan chose not to enter the city when Duke Benchu ​​died. Now he has returned to Qingzhou. He does not want to attack Yanzhou, but threatens Jizhou, Xuzhou, and Yuzhou. Especially the situation in Langya is even worse. There are signs that he is going south to plot Xuzhou."

"In this case, I have prepared for the worst, and it will be a matter of time before a war begins."

"But the problem is that today's world war has affected too many places."

Liu Bei also agreed. Now Cao Cao's forces and Yuan's forces are at full war in the world.

Cao Cao's main forces are Cao Cao, Ma Teng, Han Sui and Yuan Tan.

The Yuan family's power is vaguely dominated by Yuan Xi. Counting Yuan Shang and Liu Bei, Liu Bei's power is the weakest.

The places where the two sides fought were: one was near Sili Hedong, where Ma Teng, Han Sui and Gao Gan attacked each other.

Second, near Guandu, Cao Cao's main force confronted Yuan Shang.

Third, Yuan Tan threatened Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang's territory at the Qingzhou border, and the two sides were on the verge of breaking out.

The fourth is the Battle of Wancheng that just broke out. Yuan Xi thwarted Cao Cao's intention to go south to Jingzhou, causing him to suffer a heavy setback and forcing Zhang Xiu to side with Yuan Xi.

When Yuan Xi thought about it afterwards, he broke out in a cold sweat, because the miscalculation of this risk was due to a link that he had not fully anticipated before.

Jia Xu's attitude.

Although Chen Shou recorded in the Book of the Later Han Dynasty that it was Jia Xu who suggested that Zhang Xiu defect to Cao Cao and also suggested that Zhang Xiu attack Cao Cao in a sneak attack, so the world thinks that Zhang Xiu's surprise attack on Cao Cao was Jia Xu's idea.

But there are many unreasonable things in this record.

One is unkind. Regardless of Cao Cao, Cao Pi was very vindictive, and later generations showed hostility to Zhang Xiu many times. Zhang Xiu's death was quite strange. Zhang Xiu's son was later killed by Cao Pi for an excuse, which shows that Cao Pi may have been grudges about this matter.

But Jia Xu was fine.

Of course, some people say it was because Jia Xu made great contributions later, but in fact, judging from Jia Xu's experience in Cao Ying, he has been hiding his power and biding his time, and has not performed well. In the later period, he became almost as transparent as Cheng Yu.

The second is Chen Shou's record. In Pei Songzhi's Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms, the cause of the Wancheng Incident was changed to Zhang Xiu's decision to attack Cao Cao secretly, but Jia Xu never appeared at all from beginning to end.

Pei Songzhi was very strict in his annotations and would not delete names without reason. He presumably had some key historical evidence.

Another piece of evidence that can be used as evidence is the classic treatise written by Cao Pi. In the records about the entire incident in Wancheng, Jia Xu does not appear. Considering Jia Xu's status in Cao Ying, Cao Pi would definitely not mention it at all.

Historians from the Northern and Southern Dynasties speculated that Jia Xu left Duan Xuan to join Zhang Xiu after Zhang Xiu launched a surprise attack on Cao Cao in Wancheng.

Because Jia Xu had a close relationship with Li Jue and Guo Si, they made many plans against Zhang Ji, and the relationship between the two parties was not good. At this time, Zhang Xiu was able to accept Jia Xu's surrender, probably because he was afraid of revenge after the surprise attack on Cao Cao, and was eager to find allies, so Only then will Jia Xu be accepted as a bridge to build a good relationship with Duan Xuan.

From a motive point of view, this speculation by the historians of the Southern and Northern Dynasties is more reasonable.

The third is that Jia Xu may have been connected with Cao Cao for a long time.

The most critical evidence is that Cao Cao had long been in contact with Li Jue and Guo Si.

Pei's annotation "Three Kingdoms·Zhong Yao Biography" quotes "Shiyu" - Taizu sent an envoy (Yanzhou) to engage in the king's death, which would kill the emperor.

At this time, Cao Cao was under the command of Yuan Shao and was still a member of the Kwantung Allied Forces. Therefore, after the king arrived in Chang'an, Li Jue and Guo Si thought that the Kwantung princes planned to establish themselves as emperor. Although Cao Cao sent an envoy to the court now, he was not sincere and prepared to take the king. He must be detained and will not accept Cao Cao's loyalty. At this time, Zhong Yao, the minister of Huangmen, persuaded Li Jue and Guo Si and opened up the relationship between the two parties. As a result, Cao Cao's Yanzhou Mu was also recognized by Cao Cao.

The key to the matter is that Jia Xu was the mastermind of Li Jue and Guo Si at this time. It is impossible for him to not know about such a major event. Judging from the results, Jia Xu at least had no objection.

At this time, Zhong Yao, who has become Cao Cao's secret chess, will obviously work hard on Jia Xu. Judging from the performance of Jia Xu's quick defection to Cao Cao later, he has already had an argument with Cao Cao.

It is in line with the logic of his behavior that he did not participate in the Wancheng sneak attack on Cao Cao, because as a person who had bet on Cao Cao early on, how could he instigate Zhang Xiu to sneak attack Cao Cao because of Zhang Xiu's family affairs after joining Cao Cao? ?

This is obviously not proportional to the risks and benefits, and Zhang Xiu has no future compared to Cao Cao. Even if he kills Cao Cao, Zhang Xiu is not a potential stock that can win the world. Is Jia Xu full?

Therefore, a reasonable explanation is that Jia Xu, the historian of the Southern and Northern Dynasties, did not participate in the speculation about the Battle of Wancheng, which is more consistent with the truth.

The deviation that occurred in this life was due to Yuan Xi's intervention. Duan Xuan became a member of the emperor's favor and participated in Yuan Xi's family earlier. This also caused Jia Xu to leave Duan Xuan early and go to Zhang Xiu. Participated in the battle that affected Wancheng, but was interrupted by Zhuge Liang's punch.

In retrospect, Yuan Xi felt extremely lucky when he understood the cause and effect. This historical trend is mixed with too many mysteries and accidents. Who can really know it?

After Yuan Xi entered Wancheng, he learned that Jia Xu was indeed preparing to send troops to attack him to help Cao Cao. If it weren't for Zhuge Liang's punch, even if Yuan Xi could win, it would be a miserable victory. Maybe those who came with him would be defeated. Most of them died outside the city.

So when Yuan Xi stood in front of Jia Xu, he had murderous intentions. At that time, he was ready to take action directly.

But later he endured it. After all, Jia Xu took advantage of the situation and surrendered Kaicheng. If word of his killing and surrender spread, he was afraid that the enemy's resistance would be much stronger in future battles.

Finally, Yuan Xi arranged for people to take Jia Xu to farm in Youzhou to prevent him from causing trouble with Cao Cao.

As for Wancheng, because Yuan Xi's territory was too far away, he was really beyond his reach, so he waited for Liu Bei and Zhang Xiu to arrive in order to promote the three parties to join forces and establish a relationship with Liu Biao, at least in Jingzhou, to restrict Cao Cao's actions.

In this way, Yuan Xi's forces and Cao Cao's forces will be at war in four regions of the world at the same time.

Yuan Xi originally planned to send his main force to either Guandu or Xuzhou after the raid on Cao Cao, but what troubled him was that there were other forces currently causing trouble for him.

When Wuhuan and Gongsundu go out to the north, the most troublesome thing is Jiangdong who is stirring up trouble in the rear and stealing chickens.

Yuan Xixi handed over this issue to Zhuge Liang. What he has to do now is to appease Zhang Xiu and ask Liu Bei to join forces with him to stop Cao Cao.

Yuan Xi also had his own considerations in handing over the affairs of Jiangdong to Zhuge Liang, because Yuan Xi calculated that among the several forces, Jiangdong was the best to deal with.

Even a talented person like Zhuge Liang was not good at fighting as soon as he came out of the mountain. Lu Xun first had experience in defending the city and then studied with Jushu for a period of time before Yuan Xi felt comfortable letting him lead the army.

In other words, Zhuge Liang still needs to accumulate some experience before Yuan Xi can safely let him lead the troops. After all, the lives of soldiers are not just chips thrown away casually.

Just like Sima Yi in later generations, Cao Pi was still a civil servant when he died, but at this time Sun Quan took the opportunity to send troops to attack Jiangxia. Cao Wei had no one, so he was forced to send Sima Yi to put out the fire.

As a result, Sima Yi won a great victory in the first battle and defeated Sun Quan. Not only did he gain prestige, but he also built up his self-confidence. From then on, he accumulated experience in the war and finally became a strategist.

Just imagine that he met Zhuge Liang at that time, and he might be gone in the first battle.

From this point of view, Sun Quan played an indispensable role in the establishment of the Western Jin Dynasty in the future. He can be said to be a talented and playful person with experience.

Yuan Xi told Liu Bei the idea of ​​a three-party alliance, and Liu Bei said: "Zhang Xiu is still very vigilant."

"He has been following me for dozens of miles, as if he were facing a formidable enemy, and he was probably ready to escape at any time."

"Now that I've asked about Wancheng's meeting with the envoy, I'm afraid he's even more defensive."

Yuan Xi nodded and said: "It's no wonder. In his position, no one can trust him."

"I'll send someone to arrange a meeting place with him."

He turned to the attendant behind him, "Who is familiar with Zhang Xiu?"

The one he was most familiar with was naturally Jia Xu, but he had already been sent to the North.

At this time, Zhang Xun came out and said: "When I followed Yuan Gongguo to attack Nanyang, I fought with him and received some help. Xun is willing to deliver a message to the envoy."

Yuan Xi felt a little worried after hearing this, "Since you have been an enemy, aren't you afraid that he will openly turn his back on you and retaliate?"

Zhang Xun said calmly: "If he does this now, wouldn't he be seeking death?"

Yuan Xi thought that this was based on common sense, but who would have thought before that Yuan Tan would not follow common sense and openly kill Pang Ji?

He didn't want Zhang Xun to take risks. As he was thinking about it, Zhuge Liang smiled and said, "Don't worry, my lord. You don't have to look for him. He will naturally come to my lord."

"He doesn't have Wancheng in his hands now. He only has some soldiers and horses, and not much food and grass. Where can he go?"

"If he is a smart man, he will show his attitude and negotiate peace with the envoy as soon as possible."

When Yuan Xi heard this, he smiled and said: "Just follow Kong Ming's words and wait and see."

He and Liu Bei continued to discuss the matter in Jingzhou. After a while, he heard a report from a spy, saying that Zhang Xiu had brought more than a dozen riders and was on his way to meet Yuan Xi.

After everyone heard this, they all sighed in admiration: "Kong Ming is really clever and clever."

When Liu Bei saw it, he felt envious in his heart. Sure enough, as Xu Shu said, Zhuge Kongming's knowledge seemed to be very extraordinary.

(End of this chapter)